Plastics Are A Problem

Plastic materials are continually finding there way into our food supply and environment. This is leading to increased levels of plastic pollutants in our blood stream and body. I am surprised at how many of my new patients are unaware of the endocrine disrupting effects of these chemicals in society.

Therefore, it is high time for a refresher course on plastics in our world.

The Environmental Working Group has a website loaded with information regarding these issues. They have a list of interventions that we all should implement for our loved ones.

Bisphenol A is the Poster child for dangerous plastic chemicals.

According to Dr. Vom Saal from the UNC Panel, "However, more recent evidence has shown that BPA also exhibits other modes of endocrine disruption in addition to binding to estrogen receptors, such as alterations in endogenous hormone synthesis, hormone metabolism and hormone concentrations in blood. BPA also results in changes in tissue enzymes and hormone receptors, and interacts with other hormone-response systems, such as the androgen and thyroid hormone receptor signaling systems. While BPA was initially considered to be a "weak" estrogen based on a lower affinity for estrogen receptor alpha relative to estradiol [18], research shows that BPA is equipotent with estradiol in its ability to activate responses via recently discovered estrogen receptors associated with the cell membrane"

In other words, this stuff is seen by our body as an estrogen hormone.

Here are the likely effects of excessive exposure: "the increase in prostate and breast cancer, uro-genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including insulin resistant (type 2) diabetes and obesity, and neurobehavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."